Alternatively Speaking: A healthy start to the day

Q. Colon polyps run on my side of the
family. I would like to know if there are any natural alternatives to
preventing them or at least shrinking them? Thank you.

A.
Colon polyps are caused due to fiber deficiency. One of the most
beneficial dietary approaches for colon polyps, notes certified
nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of Prescription for Nutritional Healing,
involves consuming a high-fiber diet with no animal fats. My favorite
supplemental fiber is taken in the form of psyllium husks, barley or oat
bran.

Pay particular attention to calcium. Calcium can
significantly protect against colon polyps. Good food sources of calcium
include skim or low-fat milk and other dairy products, broccoli, kale
and canned salmon with the bones. Vitamin D, which aids in the
absorption of calcium, also appears to help reduce the risk of colon
polyps. You get vitamin D from foods such as vitamin D-fortified milk
products, liver, egg yolks and fish. Sunlight also converts a chemical
in your skin into a usable form of the vitamin. If you don't drink milk
or you avoid the sun, you may want to consider taking both a vitamin D
and a calcium supplement.

Include plenty of fruits, vegetables
and whole grains in your diet. These are high in fiber, which may also
cut your risk of developing colon polyps.Certain types of fat can
increase your risk of colon cancer. It's important to limit saturated
fats from red meat as well as processed meat such as sausages. Limit
saturated fat to no more than 10 percent of your daily calorie intake.Drink
plenty of water because it helps in keeping the functioning of one’s
digestive system and will help to clean out poisonous toxins from the
digestive tract.

Intake of vitamin C helps in reducing the
formation of polyps and vitamin E due to its antioxidant properties help
in flushing out toxins from the body. Foods rich in vitamin A protect
the lining membranes in the stomach.

I have had great success
when recommending green tea. Studies suggest that the
epigallocatechin-3-gallate, an active constituent of green tea,
neutralizes enzymes aiding in the growth of colon polyps. To reap this
benefit, you must drink at least 5 cups of green tea every day.

Q. I am looking for some tasty and healthy breakfast ideas to help me with my constipation. Do you have any ideas?

A. I suggest you can try the following as breakfast which can be prepared the night before:

-
Put two tea spoons of Linseeds in a large glass of water. Overnight the
seeds will absorb some of the water (which will help keep you and your
stool hydrated) and also release the fatty acids that help the brain
function properly.When you drink your morning linseeds, prepare
another glass to have 12 or so hours later (in the evening or before
bedtime). The linseeds also produce a muculent and this lubricates the
walls of the intestines and therefore eases bowel movements. Linseeds
also add bulk and roughage and hold water helping to create well formed
stools.

- Cover dried figs, apricots, cranberries, prunes, a
heaped tablespoon of sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and
almonds with boiling water. By the morning the water would have been
absorbed and the seeds would have doubled in size and be getting ready
to germinate into plants. This adds fatty acids and roughage and bulk to
the diet. This roughage will help scrape and clean the intestine walls,
as well as giving the intestines something to work against. To spice up
this nutritious healthy breakfast, add fresh fruit in season or mango
juice.Q. I have been a migraine sufferer most
of my adult life (I am now 49) and have tried acupuncture, conventional
medication with my GP who has also checked that there are no underlying
conditions, and I’ve personally identified trigger foods including
alcohol, chocolate, citrus fruit and caffeine. Are there any other
alternatives that you could suggest?

A. I am delighted
that you have worked closely with your GP and been your own detective,
finding out what foods precipitate an attack. Nutritional deficiencies
too can play a significant role in the development of migraines,
especially essential fatty acids (oily fish, flax seed, hemp oil) and
the mineral magnesium (green leafy vegetables), so do ensure your diet
is rich in these nutrients.

There are many natural approaches to
healing migraines. One of which is addressing the issue from a
structural option. I would suggest a gentle, holistic and non-invasive
approach to assess your condition such as Bowen or cranial osteopathy.
Bowen views the individual as an integrated biodynamic system and treats
the body with a series of gentle moves to restore balance. In the case
of migraine, particular attention is paid to the cervical spine and
cranial release points resulting in sufferers experiencing reduced
muscular and nervous tension and hence a reduction in the physical
migraine-causing symptoms. Cranial osteopathy is a subtle type of
osteopathic treatment that aids the release of tension held in the head
and throughout the entire body. A cranial osteopath will be able to
assess your general condition and the tone of the tissues, especially
those of the pelvis, diaphragm and base of the skull using a very
gentle, refined touch.

Herbal medicine has been effectively
treating migraines for centuries and doesn’t have the side effects of
conventional painkillers. One of the most popular botanicals
traditionally used for migraine headaches is Feverfew (Tanacetum
parthenium). It grows in the garden during summer and a fresh leaf a day
taken as a tea. I have found this to be effective in helping chronic
cases of migraine, but it can take a few months to take full effect.
Contraindicated for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and for those
people allergic to Feverfew or related plants such as Chrysanthemums,
marigolds or daises.

This
column is brought to you as general information only and unless stated
otherwise is not medical advice nor is it based on medical experiments.
This column is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for
specific medical conditions. For more information about specific
problems, please contact a doctor.

Natalie
runs a clinic both in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem offering a wide range of
natural treatment, including a women’s clinic every Wednesday. Healing
is achieved using homeopathy, reflexology, massage, flower remedies and
nutritional wisdom.To make an appointment please emailnateopath@gmail.comAsk
Natalie: If you have a health query and would like an alternative
answer then email Natalie with your question at nateopath@gmail.com.

Someone Once Said: 'We must turn to nature itself, to the observations of the body in health and in disease to learn the truth'. Hippocrates